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SYSTEM SAFETY APPROACH TO THE DESIGN OF AN INTERMEDIATE CAPACITY TRANSIT SYSTEM

The most effective means of avoiding accidents during the operational phase of a new urban transit system is to eliminate or reduce hazards during its design and development. The system safety management and safety analysis methods adopted during the design phase of the Intermediate Capacity Transit System (ICTS) are examined in this paper. The ICTS concept has produced a compact, lightweight vehicle design, of some 12m in length and 2.5m wide. The vehicle will operate coupled semi-permanently in pairs, which in turn can couple to make longer trains of four or six car total length. Vehicles are supported on steel wheels with steerable axles to eliminate squeal and wear on curves. The track or guideway is standard gauge and continuously welded rail is anticipated. The guideway will be either at-grade, elevated or, if necessary, in tunnel.